Eagle Sun Mask

Richard Hunt

I try to remember to thank our ancestors for keeping our
traditions and culture alive. They went through a lot of
hardship for us. The main influence in my artwork came from
my father, Henry Hunt, as well as from Willie Seaweed's work.
These are the people who turned our works from being considered a
craft to being regarded as historical art. I believe the time
has come to recognize our works as cultural property.

When I make something, I am claiming the rights to it for
myself, and at the same time for our children and all
Kwakwaka'wakw people. They are the ones who really own
it.

I was thirteen when I decided that I wanted to be a
carver. My brothers and I had gone berry picking in Saanich
to make money. I dreamt of berries all that night, and woke
up the next morning knowing that I wanted to be a carver like my
dad. My mother told me to go and learn from my father, and
that's how I started, making little paddles and masks. It was
a hobby that turned into a way of making an income through my
school years. The more I carved, the more I realized that
what I was carving came from my culture. That is why I
believe that what I create is cultural property and it is my job to
educate the public about my culture as much as I can to keep it
alive.

to commission an
artwork please call Richard at 250-889-1423 or via email
richard@richardhunt.com